Enjoy this one-pot, easy vegan tomato soup made with simple ingredients for a creamy and delicious meal. This great recipe is perfect for a quick lunch on a cold day or for meal prep during a busy week.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- One-Pot Recipe: Everything comes together in a single large pot, which simplifies cooking and cleanup.
- Nutritious: Packed with vitamins and antioxidants from fresh produce like tomatoes and red bell peppers, this soup offers a healthful boost. The inclusion of herbs and spices further enriches its nutritional profile, making it an ideal choice for those seeking healthy meals.
- Nostalgic: The classic taste of tomato soup, with its rich tomato flavor and creamy texture, evokes comforting memories of home-cooked meals. This vegan version retains all the cozy qualities of traditional tomato bisque but is crafted with plant-based ingredients.
Nutrition For Mental Wellbeing
One serving of this soup contains 180 calories, including 17g of carbohydrates, 4g of fiber, 4g of protein, and 13g of plant-based fat. It also contains 764mg of potassium, 3252IU of vitamin A, 83mg of vitamin C, and 64mg of iron.
Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins C, K1, folate, and potassium. Plant compounds found in tomatoes include lycopene, beta-carotene, naringenin, and chlorogenic acid.
Ingredients
This delicious vegan tomato soup is made with fresh, plant-based ingredients.
- Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes are the base of our soup; these whole tomatoes bring a rich tomato flavor.
- Red Bell Peppers: Adding a sweet depth and vibrant color, red bell pepper enhance the nutritional value and taste of the soup.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is essential for building a flavorful foundation, contributing much flavor and a slight kick.
- Onion: A key ingredient that offers a subtle sweetness and robustness to the soup.
- Water: Used as the primary liquid base, helping to blend all the ingredients smoothly.
- Vegetable Bouillon: Infuses the soup with complex flavors, making it the best tomato soup with a homemade touch.
- Coconut Milk: Adds a creamy texture and slight sweetness, replacing traditional heavy cream in this creamy vegan tomato soup.
- Basil: Fresh basil leaves lend a fragrant aroma and a hint of freshness, essential for achieving the classic tomato basil soup taste.
- Oregano: This herb adds an earthy, slightly bitter flavor that complements the sweetness of the tomatoes.Thyme: With its subtle, dry aroma, thyme rounds out the herb profile of this creamy tomato soup.
- Chili Powder: Chili powder introduces a gentle heat, enhancing the flavor profile of this homemade tomato soup.
- Salt: Brings out the natural flavors of the other ingredients, making every sip of the soup perfectly seasoned.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a slight piquancy, which balances well with the creamy consistency and rich flavors.
How To Make Vegan Tomato Soup
Follow these easy instructions for the perfect creamy vegan tomato soup recipe.
- Preheat oven to 400°F/205°C.
- Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, tomatoes, and half a cup of water to a Dutch oven.
- Bake for 40 minutes.
- Place pot on top of the stove on medium/low heat (just enough to reach a simmer).
- Add remaining water, coconut milk, basil, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Blend soup using an immersion blender, until ingredients are fully combined and smooth. (Pro Tip: If soup tastes a little sour, add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda. It will bubble and fizz. Stir until this reaction stops, and taste again. Repeat until the sour taste is gone.)
- Simmer for a few minutes and enjoy with your favorite bread or vegan grilled cheese.
Recipe Variations
This recipe is incredible as is. However, if you need to make adjustments based on what you have on hand or allergies, here are my recommendations.
- Vegetable Broth: Veggie broth or vegetable stock could be used in lieu of vegetable bouillon and water.
- Cream: Cashew cream or coconut cream could be used instead of coconut milk.
- Onion: This recipe for the best vegan tomato soup calls for one yellow onion. However, white onion or red onion would work well too.
- Italian Seasoning: If you are short on the individual spices called for in this vegan tomato soup.
- Red Pepper Flakes: For an extra kick, red pepper flakes can be sprinkled on top or integrated into the soup.
- Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs are always welcome. You may want to add a smidge more fresh herbs if you are replacing them with dried.
Servings Ideas For Vegan Tomato Soup
Enjoy this easy vegan tomato soup recipe on its own or with some tasty additions.
- Croutons: Homemade croutons that are nice and crispy add a wonderful crunch!
- Grilled Cheese: A vegan grilled cheese sandwich would be delightfully paired with a bowl of tomato soup.
- Salad: Homemade salads are a great light addition to this vegan soup.
Storage Tips
For the best flavor preservation, cool the soup completely before storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. (A large glass jar works well for this.)
It is not freezer-friendly. I have never had luck freezing recipes that contain coconut milk or cream. They don’t taste right after they are thawed and reheated.
FAQ
No, Campbell’s classic tomato soup is not vegan, as it contains dairy-derived ingredients. However, other varieties may be suitable for vegans, so it’s best to check the labels of specific products.
To thicken tomato soup without using milk, you can use alternatives like pureed vegetables (like carrots or potatoes), starches such as cornstarch or arrowroot mixed with a little water, or even bread blended into the soup. These ingredients help thicken the soup while keeping it vegan and adding to its nutritional content.
Almond milk can be used to add creaminess to soup, but it does not thicken soups effectively on its own. For better thickening, combine almond milk with a thickening agent like cornstarch or use almond milk in conjunction with pureed vegetables for a naturally thicker texture.
For a vegan substitute for half-and-half, you can use full-fat coconut milk, which offers a rich, creamy texture without dairy. Other options include blended silken tofu, homemade cashew cream, or commercially available vegan cream alternatives. These substitutes work well in achieving the creamy consistency desired in soups and other dishes.
Recipe
Vegan Tomato Soup
Ingredients
- 8 ripe vine tomatoes, or Roma (~3lbs)
- 2 red bell peppers, quartered with seeds removed
- 10 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 yellow onion, peeled + halved
- 1 1/2 cups water + vegetable bouillon
- 1 14-ounce can coconut milk, full fat
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Himalayan salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F/205°C.
- Add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, tomatoes, and half of a cup of water to a dutch oven.
- Bake for 40 minutes.
- Place pot on top of the stove on medium/low heat (just enough for it to reach a simmer).
- Add in remaining water, coconut milk, basil, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Blend soup using an immersion blender, until ingredients are fully combined and smooth.
- Simmer for a few minutes and enjoy with your favorite bread or vegan grilled cheese.
I can never go back to store bought tomato soup now. SO GOOD, so bright and delicious!!
Aw! I love to hear it!
This tomato soup recipe is bomb.
Thanks Jon!